Chapter 21

Now, boys and girls, while you have been listening to me, you have possibly not thought that what I have told you is really being fulfilled in your own hearing to-day, for the Bible tells us, "I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. vi: 18.) Then, in another place, it also says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." (1 John iii: 2.) So you see that it is my privilege to-day to talk, not to the children of earthly kings, whose glory is only temporal and whose honor is always uncertain, but I am permitted to talk to the children of the King of kings. (1 Tim. vi: 15; Rev. xix: 16.) The Scriptures not only tell us that God "is the only Potentate (the only powerful one), the King of kings," but it also tells us that He "hath made us unto our God kings and priests." (Rev. v: 10.) The same great book also tells us, not only, that we shall be kings and priests unto our God, but that we "shall reign forever and ever." (Rev. xxii: 5.) When a king dies he ceases to be king upon earth, but when God shall make us kings and queens and crown us in Heaven, we shall never die again, or cease to be kings and queens. The Bible tells us very clearly that our Father in Heaven is King over all earthly kings; greater than any of them; greater than all the kings of earth put together; a million times greater; yes, millions and millions of times greater; so much greater that the two do not compare in reality, but earthly kings simply suggest to our minds something of our great Heavenly King. God, this great King, created us and we were His children. But our first parents sinned and rebelled against Him, and refused to recognize Him as Father and to obey what He wanted them to do. But God loved them and us as a tender Father, and sent His only-begotten and well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to reconcile us; to tell us that God the Father loved us; that He was willing to forgive us, and that He would still accept us and make us kings and priests unto Himself, would crown us with glory, would give us dominion and make us kings and priests forever in Heaven. So you see that there can be no mistake about our being sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. We are not only His children, but He has promised us crowns of glory and thrones of dominion and power.

If you and I were in England to-day and could walk into the Tower of London, where they keep the crown and the jewels of the royal family, and we could learn the value of these costly jewels, and crowns and scepters, it matters not how rich we might be, I am sure we would have to despair of ever being able to purchase these costly crown jewels. They are estimated at many millions of dollars. Now, if an earthly crown, which can only be retained for a few years, is so valuable, how much more valuable are the everlasting crowns, such as God gives, and which are to be ours for all eternity? And if we are not able to buy such an earthly crown, how much less are we able to purchase or buy a heavenly crown? The heavenly crowns are so valuable that we could never hope to buy them, therefore God gives them to us because He loves us.

More than two hundred years ago a man by the name of Colonel Blood attempted to steal the crowns and the crown jewels of England. He was not altogether successful, but was arrested before he escaped with them. But do you know that there are many who would steal your crown, and my crown of everlasting glory, if they possibly could? Therefore, God tells us in the Bible, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Rev. iii: 11.) So you see it is very important that we should be constantly on our guard. The King of England has soldiers to watch day and night, lest any one should steal his crown. And so also you and I need to be constantly on our guard, lest wicked people and sinful influences should rob us of our heavenly crown.

Not only are crowns sometimes stolen, but sometimes they are also lost. About fifty years ago some people were digging in France, and they found eight costly crowns, all lying close together, having been lost or hidden away in the earth. Four of them were very costly and very beautiful, while the others were smaller crowns. The first four were for the king and the queen, and the prince, and one other of the older children, and the other four crowns were for the younger children of the king's household. Yet you see that the father and mother and all the children lost their crowns. I trust that no parents here, or children either, would prize their heavenly crowns so lightly as ever to lose them.

There are thousands of people who would be willing to put forth any effort, or to pay any costs, if they could only obtain an earthly crown, and yet the Bible tells us that these people do it "to obtain a corruptible crown; but we, an incorruptible." (1 Cor. ix: 25.) Now, by a corruptible crown is meant one that, like this crown made of leaves, will fade and fall to pieces, and decay, and thus pass entirely away. Even a crown of gold, studded with costly jewels, would thus also eventually perish. The crown which God gives to us is an imperishable crown, which never fades, and never passes away. And therefore the Scriptures say, "And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter v: 4.)

Since the Bible teaches us these truths so plainly, "What manner of persons ought we to be, in all holy conversation and godliness?" (2 Peter iii: 11.) What more appropriate words could I say to you in closing, than that which God says to us in the blessed Book in which He has revealed all these things, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace without spot, and blameless." (2 Peter iii: 14.)

QUESTIONS.--What kind of crown was first worn? Because crowns of leaves were so perishable, of what were crowns later made? What can you tell about the crown of the king of England? If the crowns of all the kings of earth could be brought together, would people desire to see them? If the children of earthly kings were present and we told them for the first time that they were the children of kings and gave them the crowns which they were eventually to own, would they be likely to be pleased? Are you the child of a King who is the King above all kings? Has He promised you a crown? Will your crown be perishable? How long will it last? Can you quote any of the passages of Scripture which tell of our being the children of the King of kings? Could the crown of an earthly king be bought? Is there money enough in the world to buy a crown of everlasting life? How then is this crown to be obtained? Who once stole a crown and the crown jewels of England? Was he successful in getting away with them? Who tries to steal our crown of everlasting glory? Is he ever successful? Can you tell about the eight crowns which were found hidden away in the earth in France? In what book are we told that our crown is to be imperishable and unfading, and to be ours forever? What exhortation is contained in the last sentence of the last sermon in this book?

THE END.

A WORD TO PARENTS

THE imploring letters which come to me constantly from all parts of the globe, written by young men and women who are almost hopelessly struggling to be freed from evils into which they have fallen through ignorance, prompt me to urge upon parents the great importance of safe-guarding their children from evils unspeakable by information which should always reach the child through the parent.

Many parents appreciate their duty to their children in this matter; the only thing that restrains them is that they do not know what to say and how to say it. They are in just the situation that I found myself with my own boy and girl before I had made a special study of this subject.

It was to assist parents in this trying situation that I wrote "What a Young Boy Ought to Know," and that Dr. Mary Wood-Allen wrote "What a Young Girl Ought to Know." These two books, together with "What a Young Man Ought to Know" and "What a Young Woman Ought to Know," have proven a benediction to thousands of parents, and have saved multitudes of boys and girls; of young men and young women from evils that come from blind blundering among dangers that are attended with consequences that often project themselves throughout the entire life, and frequently involve even future generations.

These books were written to make men and women--not money. The United States Government has had the books to men placed in the libraries of all the battleships, and those addressed to boys and girls and young men and young women placed in all the schools maintained by the Government for the education of the North American Indians.

Requests have been made for permission to translate these books into some forty different languages, and most of these requests have come from Christian missionaries and church missionary societies, who have desired the teachings which these books contain for use by their missionaries.

These books, in English, sell at One Dollar per copy, and a simple post card request addressed to the writer of the little book you now hold in your hands, will bring you descriptive printed matter by early post.

SYLVANUS STALL, 206 North Fifteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa., U. S. A.

WITH THE CHILDREN ON SUNDAYS

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Through Eye-Gate and Ear-Gate Into the City of Child Soul

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_By_ SYLVANUS STALL, D. D.

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_ENTHUSIASTICALLY COMMENDED BY THE PRESS_

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FOR THE FAMILY CIRCLE AND TEACHERS.

"Delightful and instructive reading for the family circle on Sunday afternoons."--_The Ram's Horn._

"The language and style are simple and effective. In approaching the mind and heart through the eye, as well as the ear, Dr. Stall uses the method which the best instructor should use to convey knowledge to the mind of the child. The book is suggestive of effective work, and is worthy of the careful attention of all who talk to children in the Sunday School, Church and home."--_Augsburg Teacher._

"These sermons cannot help being suggestive to every one who would interest children. The sermons are fascinating, and their publication marks an era in the instruction and edification of children. They will serve a noble purpose in calling back to the simplicity of preaching so wonderfully illustrated in the words of Christ."--_Wesleyan Methodist._

SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CHILDREN.

"Dr. Stall has undoubtedly the happy faculty of presenting to children sober truths in a manner to them most interesting."--_Times_, Boston, Mass.

"In this little volume there are good examples of excellent preaching to the young, and the book merits a wide circulation."--_Central Presbyterian._

"These little delightful sermons are models of point and brevity, and reach the little hearts through the eye and the ear."--_Christian Observer._

"A more practical series of discourses for children we never before have seen. The illustrations are simple and forceful, and the lessons worthy of consideration."--_Central Methodist._

"It is an excellent work, and the plan is admirably suited to reach and impress youthful minds with correct principles. The language is plain and easily understood and yet the central thought is well defined and easily grasped."--_The Christian Instructor._

"The topics are timely and fresh, the objects simple and telling, and the sermons themselves just what sermons to children ought to be, brief and well illustrated, fascinating and practical. Boys and girls will devour every one of them with relish, whilst we children of a larger growth will be children again."--_Lutheran Observer._

"The chapters contained in the volume are such as are sure to win the attention and interest of the children. We are confident that Dr. Stall has found the right key to the situation, and we commend his work most heartily."--_Messiah's Herald._

"The gift of talking sense to children in a way interesting to them is a rare one. These fifty-two short sermons show that Dr. Stall has this rare gift in an eminent degree. This is shown, not only in his way of putting things, but also in his subjects and illustrative objects."--_Lutheran Quarterly._

"In this volume the author seeks to attract the young through the presentation of the old truths of the Gospel in the form which arrest the eye, secures the attention, impresses the mind, and wins the heart for Christ and the right. The entrance into the city of Child-soul is sought by assaulting both the Eye-gate and Ear-gate. At the same time the illustrations used are impressive, the truths taught are simple, and the impressions made are likely to be lasting."--_Jersey City Times_.

"It is not every one who is able to present to children sober truths in a manner interesting to them, for it requires a special talent to either speak to or write for children, but Dr. Stall has undoubtedly the happy faculty of doing this. The author's object is to implant in the child's mind seeds of truth and love, nobleness and justice, and all the virtues that go to make a manly boy and womanly girl, as well as a God-loving child."--_Boston Times._

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FROM THE CHILDREN OF NEW ENGLAND.

SYLVANUS STALL, D. D., Philadelphia, Pa.

REVEREND SIR:

I wish to thank you in behalf of my school children for having your short sermons to children published. I read them to my school children as part of our devotional exercises, and I often hear remarks like this: "I wish the author would come to Moose Meadow. I wish I could hear him. I wish I could see him and thank him for writing those sermons. Can't we write to him and thank him?" etc., and so I have been led to write you, thanking you in their behalf.

Moose Meadow is a small country place in Eastern Connecticut, and I wish you to know that the country children enjoy your sermons equally as well as city children, and I am very glad that a copy of your book was put into my hands. I feel very grateful to God for putting it into the heart of some one to write such interesting sermons and beautiful object lessons.

Respectfully, MRS. A. B. DAWE. Moose Meadow, Town of Willington, Connecticut.

A SUGGESTIVE BOOK FOR PREACHERS.

"Pastors in search of something suggestive for talking in a helpful manner to children will find this book both helpful and suggestive."--_Reformed Church Messenger._

"A careful reading of this book will enable any minister of anything like ordinary brightness to adapt much of his preaching to the comprehension of the young."--_Gospel Messenger._

"We do not know that we can give a stronger commendation of this little volume than to say that on a brief examination of it we got the suggestion for a series of half a dozen evening sermons to young people. The book is most suggestive, and spiritually as well as mentally refreshing."--_Christian Statesman._

"An examination of the little sermons in this book shows the reader that Dr. Stall skillfully manages each topic, and leaves helpful lessons of moral and religious truths. The book will suggest to pastors methods of work that will bring the children into a closer relation to the services of the Sabbath."--_Christian Secretary._

"Excellent, admirable, irresistible approaches through the Eye-gate and Ear-gate in the City of Child-soul. The author is a genius. There is not a dull line between the covers of this book."--_Christian Endeavor World._

OTHER ENTHUSIASTIC WORDS.

"These sermons are delightful and helpful in their explanation. We have seen nothing that compares with it."--_Herald of Gospel Liberty._

"These sermons are animated in style, bright, interesting and practical."--_The Advance._

"Dr. Stall's sermons are excellent examples of abstract lessons from the common objects of everyday life, practical and effective."--_Books and Authors._

"Dr. Stall is an expert in this line of work attempted, and we may add achieved in this little book. He addresses little object sermons as bright, pithy and taking as they can be with a good point to them always."--_New York Independent._

"These short sermons will be found wonderfully suggestive. The author goes back to Bible methods, and selects common things with which all are familiar from which to draw his lessons."--_Inter Ocean_, Chicago.

"The old truths of the Gospel in this new form arrest the eye, secure the attention, impress the mind, and win the heart for Christ."--_Herald and Presbytery._

"The illustrations used are impressive, and truths taught are important, and the impressions made are likely to be lasting."--_New York Observer._

"The author, after the manner of the parables told by our Lord, presents important truths of the Gospel to the easy comprehension of both old and young."--_Christian Work._

"These little sermons are free from sensational, mawkish, maudlin stories. At the same time, they are interesting for old and young, and the short talks to children are admirable."--_Western Recorder._

"With the objects of every day life presented to the eye, the author, after the manner of the parables, presents important truths of the Gospel to the easy comprehension of both the old and young."--_Methodist Recorder._

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Transcriber's note:

Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.

Inconsistent hyphenation was retained.

Page 118, "experence" changed to "experience" (and patience experience)

Page 260, repeated word "the" removed from text (he spend the summer)

Page 301, "Persia" changed to "Prussia" (the King of Prussia had)